Homemade Wild Bird Food

Are you ready to mix up some homemade wild bird food? Here are my favorite bird food recipes.

Using a variety of bird foods will attract a wider variety of wild birds to your bird feeders. These recipes are easy to make, economical and many require no cooking. Please subscribe to my RSS feed; I will be adding new homemade wild bird food recipes and bird food ideas often.

If you have a wild bird food recipe you want to share with fellow birders please use the form at the bottom of this page. Submit a recipe and recieve a free gift!

Many of these homemade wild bird food recipes will require rendered suet. Rendering suet removes all traces of meat. Rendered suet is less likely to turn rancid and melt when outside in temperatures over 70 degrees.

Here is the process for rendering suet:

Put the suet into a pan and turn on low heat (overheated fat can catch fire). If possible use an electric skillet. If you are using your stovetop it is best to use an oversized pan.

After the suet melts, pour it through fine cheesecloth into a heatproof container. Then discard the pieces that did not melt. Allow the melted suet to re-harden, either in the fridge or on the counter top. The suet needs to be melted and hardened 2 –3 times before it is ready to use. If you don’t do this, the suet will not cake properly.

Here are a few of my favorite homemade wild bird food recipes.

Sweet Cherry Treat

2 cups of rendered suet
1 1/2 cups of chunky peanut butter
1 cup of dried cherries
1 cup of sunflower seed hearts
1 cup of crushed graham crackers
1 1/2 cups of oatmeal

In a large bowl, add the chunky peanut butter to the rendered suet while it is still warm. Once the peanut butter is melted, add the cherries and the sunflower seed hearts. Then stir in the crushed graham crackers and oatmeal. After all of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, put the mixture into molds or on a cookie sheet to cool.

Berries Berries Berries

3 cups of rendered suet
1 1/2 cups of chunky peanut butter
1 cup of mixed, dried berries. Strawberries, blueberries, cherries and cranberries.
1 cup of sunflower seed hearts
1 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of corn muffin mix.

In a large bowl, add the chunky peanut butter to the rendered suet while it is still warm. Once the peanut butter is melted, add the dried berries and the sunflower seed hearts. Then stir in the oatmeal and corn muffin mix. After all of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, put the mixture into molds or on a cookie sheet to cool.

Homemade Oriole bird food Recipe

1 part sugar/6 parts water

Bring the water to a boil and then add the sugar. Boil until the sugar has dissolved. 1 part sugar to 6 parts water means that if you boil 2 cups of water you will need 1/3 cup of sugar.

Let the mix cool before filling your feeder. Store any excess food in your refrigerator until ready to use. There is no need to add food coloring.

Hummingbird feeder recipe:

1 part sugar
4 parts water

First, bring the water to a boil and then slowly add the sugar. Let it boil for a few minutes, then remove from the burner to cool. Store any excess nectar in the refrigerator. Yes, it is that easy!

Wild Bird Shish kabob

Ingredients: apples, oranges, pears, grapes, prunes, dried fruit, berries, summer squash or any other fresh fruits that you have around your kitchen or garden.

Slice the larger items into manageable sizes and poke a hole in the center of each piece. Then tie a large knot in one end of a 3 to 4 foot piece of twine. Run the twine through your fruits and vegetables. Then simply hang your stringed treats over a tree branch and watch as your feathered friends feast on your new offering.

September Harvest

This is another homemade wild bird food recipe that I know you will enjoy. Here in New Hampshire September means apples. There are also many other fruits available. Many migratory birds that eat fruit will be tempted to linger at your feeders if you offer the following mix. Use a platform style feeder when offering this wild bird food mix.

2 cups of dried, chopped apples (dried apples will not get moldy as fast)
2 cups of raisins
2 cups of chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts or any nuts you have available)
1 cup of chopped prunes
1 cup of dried melon or squash seeds

Simply mix the ingredients together in a large bowl or bucket. Start by adding small amounts to your feeder and store the rest in a paper bag in a cool and dry location. Now your homemade wild bird food is ready to serve.

Peanut Butter Cakes

Wild Birds love peanut butter and suet. This recipe combines both. These birds treats are easy to make and a great project for kids.

You will need:

1 cup of rendered suet
1 cup of chunky peanut butter
6 cups of cornmeal
1 muffin tin with paper liners

Here is the process for rendering suet: Put the suet into a pan and turn on low heat (overheated fat can catch fire). If possible use an electric skillet. If you are using your stovetop it is best to use an oversized pan.

After the suet melts, pour it through fine cheesecloth into a heatproof container. Then discard the pieces that did not melt. Allow the melted suet to re-harden, either in the fridge or on the counter top. The suet needs to be melted and hardened 2 to 3 times before it is ready to use. If you do not do this, the suet will not cake properly.

While the suet is still warm, add the chunky peanut butter and stir until melted. Then stir in the cornmeal.

Spoon the mixture into the paper-lined muffin tins. Allow them to cool at room temperature or place them in the refrigerator. They can even be frozen until needed.

You can add any combination of sunflower seeds, raisins, chopped fruit or nuts to spice up your mixture of homemade wild bird food.

I hope you enjoyed these homemade wild bird food recipes.

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What Other Visitors Have Contributed

Click below to see recipes from other visitors to this page...

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Homemade Wild Bird Food

Here is the process for rendering suet:

Here are a few of my favorite homemade wild bird food recipes.

Sweet Cherry Treat

Berries Berries Berries

Homemade Oriole bird food Recipe

Hummingbird feeder recipe:

1 part sugar 4 parts water

Wild Bird Shish kabob

September Harvest

Peanut Butter Cakes

Special Offer!

Do you have a wild bird food recipe that you want to share?

What Other Visitors Have Contributed

Grand Opening!

Birds Choice CedarHopper Bird Feeder on Platform

Droll YankeesDorothy's Cardinal Feeder

Rubicon Fly-ThruBird Feeder, Hunter Green

Coveside CedarWindowsill Bird Feeder

Birds ChoiceRecycled 16" x 13" Hanging Tray

For more tips, sign up for my free monthly newsletter.The Backyard Birder

Grand Opening!

Gain instant access to more than 30 wild bird food recipes!

1 part sugar
4 parts water

Birds Choice Cedar
Hopper Bird Feeder on Platform

Droll Yankees
Dorothy's Cardinal Feeder

Rubicon Fly-Thru
Bird Feeder, Hunter Green

Coveside Cedar
Windowsill Bird Feeder

Birds Choice
Recycled 16" x 13" Hanging Tray

For more tips, sign up for my free monthly newsletter.
The Backyard Birder